Anna's Eclectic Life in Fashion

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

And now for my latest obsession.... PLAID!!!!! I love plaid. It is so versatile. And it can indicate so many things. Plaid can show being preppy, but it can also be goth. It's incredibly quirky. It's modern, but it's been around for ages. Scottish people, of course, are known for their plaid. Have I mentioned that I feel a great kinship with the Scottish people? Here are some examples of plaid as I wear it.

Please ignore how creepy I look in this picture. This skirt is an Anna Whittemore original! I found this *awesome* fabric, figured out how to make it (no commercial patterns for me, thank you) and voile! A thoroughly lovable skirt.

My connection to the Scottish. Oh yes. I found this skirt at Goodwill, but it was really long. I shortened it, and now it is much less ridiculous. The pleating is only in the front, but I like that. And yes, I am playing the bagpipes. Luckily, there is no sound, because if there was it would sound like a child, or maybe a cat, crying in pain. Bagpipes? Yeah, not one of my talents.

And now..... My twist on Little Red Riding Hood! I made this cape today, because there is really a shortage of capes in this world. And I adore this plum-colored plaid! It feels really great, too, like super-soft felt. There is a large black button in the front, too, but the lighting on this picture isn't the best. Hey, I don't have a photographer!

Anyway, plaid forever! I love plaid, and all that good stuff. I hope you do, too. Adieu! (hey, a rhyme!)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Ah, Paris. Bon Paris. The City of Love. Nobody can deny that when it comes to fashion, Paris is second only to Milan. And only barely. My inspiration for this particular post is that I am attending a Paris-themed party this weekend. We are supposed to dress in the height of 1920s Parisian chic. Naturally, I am more than excited. My plans include the yellow/green dress from the "Finds" post, some brown '20s-looking heels with bows, and a hat, which I haven't decided on. What I really need is a brown cloche hat, but I can't find one.
Anyway, let's talk Paris. In researching it, I found that an astounding number of fashion houses are based there. The ones that really jumped out at me from the list I found on Wikipedia are Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Choe, Givenchy, Hermes, Vuitton, and Yves San Laurent. Paris (and really France in general) has been a big part of fashion since the 17th century, though of course at the time that meant Louis XIV started wearing those awful curled wigs. People thought "ugh" about that style after a bit, and Paris was not relied on for fashion ideas for quite some time. Around 1860, they decided to revive. They decided it was time for a bit of Haute Coture, and Vogue was founded in 1892. Now, naturally people were thinking corsets were a good idea during this time. What doesn't make sense about that-- everyone wants a waist "the width of your hand" (Dior said that, by the way, but much later). Who cares if you can't breathe? People were all about Paris during the Civil War, because everything French was terribly fashionable. Well, it still is.
There was a terrible lull during World War II, because of rationing. Then Dior brought fashion back! And I must say, some of these things look fabulous! Paris will always be the home of fashion-lovers.... if only I could go!!!! Au revoir.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Okay, so I've taken a summer vacation. So shoot me. The point is, I have a ton a new ideas, and I can't wait to start talking about them (also I'm happy, cause it looks like at least a few people have been on here in my absence) So let's get started!!!!
Let's talk about finds. I love, love, LOVE, special amazing finds. I love perusing stores I've never been in, searching for that one find that will make everything perfect in my life... for a little while, anyway. If you're wondering, a "find" is really any piece of clothing or an accessory. They're the things you "find" in vintage stores. Well, a couple of weekends ago, I went to 12th Avenue South in Nashville, Tennessee and found some really great stores, full of really great stuff. FYI, I love "stuff" too
Okay, so I went to Katie K's Ranch Dressing (yes, it's a clothing store) and there was so much great stuff in there! Particularly in the Closet Case Vintage room. There were some stunning things in there, including a cape, which was great but too wintery for this season, a gypsy dress, a PINK VELVET minidress (I could hardly bear to part with it!!!!) and one dress that, in the words of my mother, made me look like a cupcake. It was pink. It had a '60s silhouette. there was a sweetheart neckline. It also had shoulders that were so ridiculously puffed that it would have been impossible, even for me, to wear in public. The shoulders were truly had about three inches of puffy padding. But ANYWAY, getting away from the "cupcake dress", here are the two items I chose to buy from all those great things I've just told you about, and more:

Awesome dropwaist dress in neon yellow/green. It has an uneven hem (intentional), which you can't totally see. Vintage Kay Windsor.

This Jackie O.-inspired tweed dress is going to be amazing this fall! I love it. Everything about this dress is great. Vintage A La Mode. The hat I'm wearing is not from Katie K's, but from the store I'm about to talk about.

Let's talk Savant Vintage Couture. While this place is a little pricey for my budget, it has great finds!! I was heartbroken that I had to leave behind a certain swimsuit. I actually got photographed trying on a plaid-and-white dress that was just a tad small on me, and it's on Savant's Facebook page! There are some really great jumpsuits.... ahh, the '70s. Anyway, I bought two items... no, three. But one was a gift for my dad's birthday. One was the hat, pictured in the above outfit. The other item is pictured in the below outfit!!!

YES! The long sought-after ultra high-waisted shorts. These are truly ridiculous, and really comfortable. New favorite in my everyday wardrobe? I think so. Vintage Kyoto Kasuals. (don't worry, nothing comes up when I Google this brand either.)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I have been working for a long time to get this post. It all started with me wanting to sing "Popular" from the musical Wicked. Look it up-- you'll see that in the video, Glinda (or "Galinda" as she is called in Act I) wears a fluffy pink ball gown. There are lots of people who want this dress, but there is no replica for sale!!!!! Well, when I found out I was singing "Popular" for my voice recital, I decided that I needed to make this dress. Not only was it essential for the part, but it was an *amazing* challenge. I started looking for patters and fabric everywhere. It wasn't easy to find crinkled pink chiffon in the right shade, and in the end I didn't even get it quite right. Of course, last weekend I found the perfect fabric at Hobby Lobby, but I had already bought this stuff.

Anyway, once I had located the right pattern (Murphy's layer skirt, here) and decided that my top pattern would be cutting apart my pink camisole, I was set. It took me a few days to sew, and no part of it was easy. Still, I made it. Also, if you want one of these dresses, email me at annastarmoon@gmail.com and we'll figure out all the good stuff like prices and sizes.

Here's the whole top. It's very complicated.

A close-up of the corsety ribbon part.

This is the beribboned edge the skirt. They took a loooooong time to sew on.

This is between the layers of the skirt. The fabric I used was gray, which was a mistake, since it shows a little bit when I spin. From now on, I'm using pink.

Here's a picture of the skirt.

See, I sewed the fabric over an old pink cami. It works really well, since it just took on the shape of something that I knew fit me.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Okay, so yes, I do realize that I've taken a bit of a hiatus from posting lately. But I'm back, and that's what counts, isn't it? Well, now I have EVEN BETTER STUFF THAN EVER!!! Because I have an outfit from Betsey Johnson.

It's all thanks to the Tennessee Bar Association. They had a history video contest, and I won it (Click here to view my video) and I get to go to this Tennessee Bar Association luncheon in June. Naturally, I needed something to wear. After a bit of searching, I discovered that Betsey Johnson was having a huge sale! HURRAH!!! I searched excitedly through the racks and came up with lots of possibles. Then I found the jacket for this outfit. I loved it, but thought "There should be a dress to go with it". Lo and behold, a few minutes later I found the dress. Together, they make a little outfit that is both quirky and professional-looking. It's just the thing to wear with black tights and heels (though I intend to wear flats, since I think that any good impression I may gain from wearing a quirky-yet-professional outfit would be lost again when I fall and break my neck).

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Hiya..... I am participating a local poetry slam soon! I've never done one, and this is a little different from most. It's just kids, and I guess since the organizers didn't want anybody's feelings to get hurt, it's not a competition. Slightly disappointing, but still. Anyway, I have selected an Emily Dickinson poem and written one. We're each supposed to have one by an actual poet and one by ourselves. Here's mine:

Wind
In the trees
Rain
In the trees
Ground
Beneath the trees
Birds
In the trees
A nature scene
Within the green
Fast forward!
A city is now sitting there
An urban scene
With neon glare
Wind
In the buildings
Rain
Outside the buildings
Ground
Beneath the buildings
Birds
Outside the buildings
Same old place
A different face
Ever changing
Always ranging
A place with change
But somehow always stays the same.....

Monday, March 28, 2011

I have mixed feelings on this type of garment. As a basketball player, I am obliged to don basketball shorts at least twice a week, but that doesn't mean that I like them. In fact, I am much more comfortable in a skirt or skinny jeans. Most people don't understand it-- is must be my strong sense of what is right and wrong in the fashion world.

I am more open-minded about other kinds of excercise clothes. I had the idea for this post last night a yoga class, when I thought about my odd fascination with yoga clothes. I like the way they look in stores-- all solid colors and neat, matchy-matchy sets of stretch fabric. I think it must just be the shopper within me, because as soon as I get home, I'm bored with the yoga clothes. The unnatural fibers they are made of get pilly and the solid colors become such a yawn.

That isn't, of course, to say that I don't like yoga. I'll wear yoga clothes if it means two hours of stretching and relaxation. But I'll also wear basketball shorts if it means I get two hours of playing. I like bathing suits, but only if they are functional as well as fashionable. I'm not the kind of girl who sits around on the side of the pool getting a tan. I'm swimming like a fish. Okay, I think that's enough meditating on what we wear to get in shape. It is an odd subject.

Which keep-warm item do you like the best?

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Hello, dears... this is me. I have no excuse for myself, except possibly that I am a chronic overdresser. While my friends are slouching around in jeans and T-shirts, there I am in a ruffled dress in platform boots. I try to do it quietly, not saying much about it, hoping people will just go with it, like "Oh, that's just Anna." I don't think I have succeeded. I suppose that Abby Scuito boots and Vibram Fivefingers, not to mention shoulder pads, are hardly the way to a quiet life. Still, I have no regrets. Except maybe that this blog has not become a smash-hit like overnight.
Adieu!